If you’re walking the grocery store aisles and dreaming of fixing yourself a sandwich, what are some sandwich spreads you would grab? Definitely mayo and mustard. Maybe pesto? Oh and definitely a jelly or two if sweet sandwiches are your jam. But if the thought of eating another been-there-done-that sandwich makes you want to unleash a primal scream (which we’ve discovered is frowned upon at the grocery store), there are more interesting options. And you deserve an interesting sandwich, dammit! We’re halfway through 2023 and nothing terribly exciting has happened, so let’s spice up your boring-ass life (sorry, I’m projecting here) with some exciting sandwich spreads. From spreadable cheeses to a thick, spicy curry, here are some unexpected sandwich spreads to toss in your cart the next time you want a sandwich that isn’t at all ordinary.
- 365 Aged Asiago Cheese Spread
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Cheese spread is perfect to have on hand for cracker snacking, but it’s a damn good sandwich spread, too. See, the problem with sliced cheese is that it rarely fits the sandwich. Smearing your bread with cheese is the perfect way to make sure you get cheese goodness from crust to crust. And this spreadable cheese rules—it’s “zesty, tangy, and zippy” by virtue of being made with sharp, nutty Asiago. This with some roast beef and arugula? Sandwich heaven.
Read the full ranking of the best spreadable cheese
- Vegan Caramelized Onion Dip
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Yes, this is a dip. But Trader Joe’s Vegan Caramelized Onion Dip is also a perfect sandwich spread for a number of reasons: it’s creamy, it’s spreadable, and it tastes like delicious caramelized onions and thyme. Those seem like pretty good arguments to me. Also, it’s vegan but it actually tastes better than the TJ’s onion dip that’s made with dairy. Slather this on a sandwich with the mock deli meat of your choice and suddenly your ho-hum Tofurky sandwich is a gourmet meal.
Read the full ranking of the best Trader Joe’s dips
- Terry Ho’s Yum Yum Sauce the Original
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If you buy yum yum sauce, you’re probably using it as a dip for shrimp, right? Well, I have three words for you: shrimp po’ boy (yeah, I’m counting po’ as a word). Toss some frozen popcorn shrimp in the oven and slather a nice, crusty hoagie roll with Terry Ho’s Yum Yum Sauce, which Sporked editor-in-chief Justine Sterling loved because it’s deliciously “sweet and tangy.” It’s also nice and thick, so you don’t have to worry about it squirting out onto your shirt. This is one of the best sandwich spreads when you’re looking to add a little extra flavor and moisture to a grilled chicken sandwich, too. Literally, yum.
Read the full ranking of the best yum yum sauce
- Spero the Herb Sunflower Cream Cheese
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Spero the Herb Sunflower Cream Cheese lost a few Sporks in our vegan cream cheese ranking because it doesn’t quite taste like cream cheese. But that’s why I’m snatching it up to add to our list of the best sandwich spreads! Even if it lied on its resume, Sporked senior writer Jordan Myrick loved its tangy, nutty, and super earthy flavor. This is one of the most exciting sandwich spreads to add to a veggie sandwich you’re throwing together for a late afternoon snack. Or you can really lean into the unexpected and slather it your next BLT.
Read the full ranking of the best vegan cream cheese
- Trader Joe’s Thai Style Red Curry Sauce
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This wasn’t the best curry sauce we sampled in our red curry taste test, but it has its virtues. For instance, it’s thick, and that makes it a great (and, yes, unexpected) sandwich spread. Reach for this when you’re making a turkey sandwich and fear you’d be bored to death by mayo. It has a little heat, a nice gingery flavor, and it’s perfect for spreading. You may be eating turkey curry sandwiches for the rest of forever, but that’s okay—this stuff is cheap!
Read the full ranking of the best red curry sauce
Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!